Penstemon Species, Beard Tongue, Smooth Blue Beardtongue, Pride of the Mountain, Waxleaf Penstemon

From E. H. Moss (1959), rev. J. G. Packer (1983), Flora of Alberta: "Stems stout, 2-3 dm high, often in clumps, gla...Read Morebrous; leaves ovate, lanceolate or oblanceolate, 2-5 cm long, thick, entire, glabrous and glaucous; panicle narrow, with large, ovate or lanceolate, abruptly acuminate bracts; corolla 15-18 mm long, usually blue, rarely pinkish or purplish; sterile stamen bearded on the expanded apex and well back from the apex; flowering in May". Range: "Prairies. seBC to sMan to Wash, Wyo, neColo, ND."

Note that the bloom time, in contrast to what Moss and Packer recorded, actually ranges from May into July, depending on elevation.

This must be my favorite beard tongue but alas, a heart-breaker. This species is native to the foothills of the Rockies and adapted to s...Read Moreunny, dry conditions. The leaves are a lovely blue-grey, almost nice enough without the flowers. However, the flowers are the most intense sky-blue. Plants grow 8-12" making them ideal for the rockery. It self seeds in my brothers garden in Calgary, Alberta (they grow native there) but after 3 attemps in Newfoundland, it's a lost cause as our climate is just too wet. For westerners in dry climates, it is a highly recommended plant.